Time capsule offers peek at Ridgefield Park in 1989

Sgt. Brian Hippe opens a Roosevelt School time capsule last Friday that was made in 1989. Alumni and current students came to watch as various items from the past were taken out of the capsule.

RIDGEFIELD PARK - The day Roosevelt School Principal Mike Alberque climbed up to the school's attic to retrieve a time capsule which had been stashed there in 1989, he had to leave school to change his suit which had become covered in soot. Now, 25 years after the box had first been hidden away, it has been opened. Snapshots of the decade replete with big hair, shoulder pads and neon are on display for 21st century Roosevelt students.

The time capsule first came to Alberque's attention by Ridgefield Police Sgt. Brian Hippe, who was a Roosevelt student when it was created.

Above, current Roosevelt School Principal Michael Alberque shows a class photo that was left in the box. At left, Ridgefield Park alumni Karissa Tress-Patrisso and Pete Arciuolo look at an old class photograph that was taken out of the 1989 time capsule.

"The Village police are always at school," explained Alberque. "They are a presence at all our schools, so the children feel safe and know that law enforcement is an important part of our community."

Hippe began to nudge Alberque about the time capsule, and opening it became a running joke between them. Finally, the principal ascended to the attic, which was largely bare but for the box and decades of soot.

"From there - through word of mouth and social media - Roosevelt School graduates and staff got in touch with each other about opening the box," Alberque explained.

In addition to Hippe, Sarah Graves, a district employee, was also a Roosevelt student in 1989, and was excited to learn that a moment frozen in time 25 years ago would soon be revealed. Similarly, Carissa Patrisso, who has a child presently attending the school, was herself a Roosevelt student when the time capsule was created and hidden.

David Verducci, the recently retired superintendent from Glen Rock, was Roosevelt School's principal in 1989. He was in attendance during the opening of the time capsule.

And while Alberque resided in the Village at that time, the now 52-year-old was a young teacher and athletic director in Fair Lawn at the time.

"While I was not around at the time, the memories of the people involved in 1989 have created quite a bit of excitement," Alberque said.

Before opening the time capsule, Alberque heard there was a VHS tape with recordings of the school inside.

"The great irony in that is the fact that this year's NJASK included a question about a VCR...and most of our students had no clue what that was! It will be great to show them a tape, if it's in there," he said.

Alumni, former and present faculty and approximately 35 students who serve as the school's safety monitors, gathered on June 13 to witness the opening of the 1989 time capsule. The 80s came roaring back as photos, newspapers, magazines, writing samples, VHS tapes, a cheerleading sweater and a basketball uniform from the Roosevelt School Rough Riders were pulled from inside the box that had been hidden for a quarter century.

Alberque said that the group watched the videos after the event; one was from the rededication of Roosevelt School and the other was a variety show from 1989.

"It was pretty funny," Alberque said.

The principal explained that contemporaneous items from 2014 would be put in the box along with the items from 1989.

"Our goal is to put items from the year 2014 to the capsule. Then in 25 years, have it opened again, with things from both 25 and 50 years ago," he said.

The joint 1989/2014 time capsule will be returned to the Roosevelt School attic to await its next reveal in 2039.